San Mateo County Sheriff's Deputy charged with felony child abuse

San Mateo County Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Romero has been charged with felony child abuse by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors allege that in March, Romero attacked his five-year-old son at their Livermore home after the child failed to finish breakfast within a 15-minute limit.

The allegations state that Romero choked the child by the mouth and neck and dragged him into a room by the ear. A medical professional later determined that the child's injuries, which included ear bruising, constituted physical abuse.

Romero has been on leave from the sheriff’s office since April 2025. The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it is aware of the allegations and has launched an internal investigation, noting that the alleged conduct occurred off-duty in Alameda County.